Garden Q&A: How should I look after a hebe shrub?

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

Hebes are truly delightful plants as they flower freely each summer and autumn, attracting a host of bees and other beneficial insects

I just received a gift of a Hebe shrub and I want to know how to look after it. Should I prune it and when?

ANSWER

Hebes are truly delightful plants as they flower freely each summer and autumn, attracting a host of bees and other beneficial insects to the garden to feast on their flowers. Depending on the variety, the flowers may be white, pink, lavender or mauve in colour. They tend to be low growing. They are evergreen and the foliage colour can be every bit as attractive as the blooms.

Grow them in a sunny, well-drained part of the garden and prune regularly. If left unpruned they can get leggy and straggly looking and with the best will in the world you won't be able to restore one that has gone too far to its former glory. Better to prevent it from getting into that condition in the first place.

You can do that by pruning lightly at the end of each flush of flowers. Trim below the flowers and remove a few inches of the stem and foliage beneath. Doing this will ensure that your hebe doesn’t lose the run of itself and will remain nice and bushy.

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